As airports embrace their long-term recovery, Airports Council International (ACI) World has launched comprehensive guidance to help airport leaders to incorporate sustainability at the core of their recovery strategies.
ACI World Sustainable Recovery Best Practice highlights the advantages of incorporating sustainability in recovery plans, which includes access to funding through government relief packages and sustainability-linked bonds, as well as further developing a more balanced business model that incorporates environmental, and economic sustainability.
Remarking on how airports have been recognising the advantages of a sustainability-centric recovery strategy, ACI World Director General, Luis Felipe de Oliveira, said: “While health and evolving passenger expectations remain central to airports and the industry’s sustained recovery, climate change and other related externalities remain the major risk we face as a sector and as humanity.”
He continued, “we believe that aviation’s role in serving a post-pandemic, decarbonising global society and economy is critical, but continued efforts will require support from government and other stakeholders. Aviation and non-aviation players will need to further collaborate to identify solutions that realise the positive transformation that sustainability can bring to the sector, the overall economy, and in achieving each of the UN Sustainable Development Goals.”
ACI’s Best Practice guidance is accompanied by the ACI World Sustainable Recovery Case Studies, which provide examples from six airports under the three pillars of sustainability. The case studies highlight sustainable alternatives for airports to consider while they plan for recovery in the short-, medium-, and long-term, and exemplify that while many of the good practices from before the pandemic remain valid, the post-COVID-19 world may require different approaches.
